I arrived three minutes late to science class the next morning, but to my fortune, the teacher excused it, knowing my situation.  But I was not the only one tardy that morning. Bayley Wicker was not to class until exactly twenty four minutes after the first bell had rang. He, on the other hand, was not excused, and he was given detention after school. 

All we did in the class was notes, but I had no possible way that I could take notes. And I also didn't have any friends in the class that could lend me their notes so that I could type them up later on my typewriter. So I was basically stuck sitting their for the remainder of class, wallowing in my self pity. The teacher suggested that I should still listen, but I often found myself drifting off into useless thought, almost as useless as me having to take this class just for enough credits to actually graduate high school. 

"Miller and Bayley, would you two mind staying after few minutes after class?" Mrs. Bradock called from the front of the room at the end of the class. I nodded my head, but heard nothing come from Bayley but a quiet groan. 

The bell rang, signalling the end of class. I used my hands to guide me to the front of the classroom and landed when Mrs. Bradock held out her hands to stop me from continuing further out of the room. I waited for her to start the conversation, the silence in the room abruptly plagued by the sound of Bayley shuffling slowly to where Mrs. Bradock and I were not-so-patiently waiting. 

"Miller," Mrs. Bradock started, "I know that it is difficult for you to take the notes during class, but do you have any other means of writing that would allow for you to be able to later read what you took down?"

"Uh, yeah. I have a typewriter at home, but I can't really bring it into school." I replied, trying not to sound like I hated this class. 

"Oh, don't be silly! I wouldn't expect for you to carry a giant typewriter into the classroom!" she laughed, and placed a hand on my shoulder, causing me to jump when I didn't know it was coming. "And as for why you are still present, Mr. Wicker, you were given a detention this afternoon for a tardy." 

He didn't respond. 

"You might be able to get out of it, if you would like. I know this isn't the best method of punishment for tardiness, but I am not all that capable of staying after school. What I was going to suggest, as long as it's okay with you, Miller, is that you meet up after school so that you can get the notes from Bayley. And that would save you, Bayley, from your detention this afternoon." 

The silence enclosed the room again, until I figured that the only way to end it was with my response, since Bayley seemed to have some sort of speech impediment. 

"Sure. That would work for me." I lied, completely regretting agreeing to spend more time than I needed to with this kid. 

"I guess." he sighed heavily. 

"Wonderful, as long as Miller has the notes for the day by tomorrow's class." she said. I nodded my head, packing up my things off of the nearest desk and heading towards what I assumed was the door. 

Mrs. Bradock left the room before us, scurrying off in a hurry. Two large hands abruptly landed on my shoulders and pushed me in the opposite direction. I automatically jumped, mostly because I felt uncomfortable with this scummy kid putting his hands all over me. 

"You were about to walk into the wall." he stated in a monotone. He had a deep voice for a seventeen year-old, frightening me out of my wits. 

"Right..." I left the room in a hurry, scanning the braile signs on the walls with my hands to find my second period english class. 

...

Lunch came in no time, and I found my way better than I had the day before. Alana met me at the entrance to the cafeteria, leading me to the designated lunch table to meet Rose, Cat, Gabby, and Cece for the second day in a row. 

"Hey, guys." I smiled. I heard a few "heys," and "what's ups,", but I didn't respond. My mind was still stuck on the fact that I would have to see this Bayley kid for more than one hour a day. Mrs. Bradock made it sound like it was just for today, but how could it be, if I could never get the notes anyway? I put it out of my mind for a little while though.

"Ugh. I forgot to pack a spoon in my lunch." complained Gabby. 

"I can go get you one, if you want." Cat offered. 

"Sure, but I'll come with you. I just don't want to go by myself and look like a loner." Gabby laughed in response. They left the table to get Gabby's promised spoon, leaving the rest of the table to converse without them. 

"So, Cece, who's your boyfriend this year?" Alana teased. I giggled a little, but then shut up when I realized that I didn't know why I was giggling. 

"Well, no one yet. But I do have this really cute kid in my anatomy class. We've only talked once though." she moped. 

"It could go pretty far, though." Rose chuckled, obviously lying. Suddenly, a small thump errupted throughout the cafeteria, but I thought I was the only one to hear it so I didn't acknowledge it.  

"You know what I don't understand, how have you had so many boyfriends and I haven't even had one girlfriend?" Cat approached the table again and sat down next to Gabby. 

"Maybe girl's play hard to get?"

"Or maybe Cece is just boy crazy!" Gabby interjected. Everyone at the table starting laughing, so I joined in too, trying not to look like the outcast that I currently was. 

"Speaking of Cece's many crushes, do any of you know what's going on over at Nate's table? I thought I heard something when you were getting the spoon." said Rose with a mouthful of carrot going down her throat.

"Oh, I heard that too." I said. 

"I saw a quick glimpse of Bay getting beat up again." Cat replied. 

"I always feel so bad. But there really isn't anything I can do. I mean, we could just report it to a teacher, but the teacher won't do anything since everyone is afraid of Nate's parents." Alana sighed. I felt as she placed her elbow down on the table, sending a shock wave to where I was seated.

"Isn't the illegal? My dad's a police officer and I've heard of plently of cases of bullying." I interrupted. 

"Yeah, Nate really should have been arrested by now." Alana responded. 

The bell rang and lunch was dismissed. I packed up my yogurt and strawberries, stuffing them into my lunch bag and heading off to find Ms. Monte's office.